Colby Hall, Executive Director at SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region), joined me for this week's episode!

SOAR is a regional nonpartisan nonprofit that champions local projects, programs, and advocacy for the 54 ARC-mandated counties in Eastern Kentucky. Their mission is to fill the economic gaps left by the decline of the coal industry, and their goal is to rally the communities to help achieve these goals together for the good of all.

We talked:

• Colby's unique journey to Executive Director at SOAR
• SOAR's Blueprint
• Vital importance of getting broadband access for all right
• A 21st Century Workforce
• SOAR Innovation tools and resources
• Upcoming 2021 SOAR Summit
• And much more!

Colby's book recommendation: Ron Chernow's, "Alexander Hamilton" https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Hamilton-Ron-Chernow/dp/0143034758 

Interested in working with or the resources available through SOAR:
https://www.soar-ky.org
https://www.facebook.com/ShapingOurAppalachianRegion 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/shaping-our-appalachian-region/ 

Shaping Our Appalachian Region
137 Main Street, Ste. 300
Pikeville, KY 41501

Conley Bottom is owned and operated by their family for families.  Their passion is your passion- Lake Cumberland, and all of the beauty and activity that it has to offer. Amber's grandpa, Charlie Denney, started as a dock boy at the age of 14 and worked his way up through the years. He and his wife, Polly, bought into the business and started to operate it together in 1979, even converting part of their home into an office for Conley Bottom. Amber's mom, Robin married her husband Fred in 1981, and they began to manage the marina and worked very hard to make the marina what it is today. They bought into the business in 2019.  Amber's brother, Knox and herself also grew up at the marina and now work very hard along with their spouses, Jeremy and Rachel to keep the family business alive and well. They all take great pride in promoting a family-friendly atmosphere for other families to enjoy.   

We talked:

• Conley Bottom History
• The Fire
• What COVID Looked Like at the lake
• Rebuilding Bigger and Better
• And much more!

Interested in working with or visiting Conley Bottom:
https://conleybottom.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/Conley-Bottom-Resort-103535429689617/?ref=page_internal 

Conley Bottom Resort
270 Conley Bottom Road
Monticello, KY 42633

Tiffany Finley, Executive Director of Master Musicians Festival, joined me for the latest episode.

MMF is a non-profit music festival dedicated to bringing musical excellence to rural Kentucky while making a 3 million dollar economic impact on the Lake Cumberland area. Tiffany currently serves as vice president of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. During the pandemic, Tiffany also co-founded Black Mountain Management, a music management company that focuses on giving Kentucky artists a voice in the music industry.

We talked:

• MMF's History
• Economic Impact of the annual festival
• Which headline artist they *almost* landed
• Launching Black Mountain Management
• And much more!

Tiffany's podcast recommendation: Dax Shepard's, "Armchair Expert" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/id1345682353 

Interested in working with or purchasing tickets through MMF:
https://mastermusiciansfestival.org/  
https://www.facebook.com/mastermusiciansfestival 

Master Musicians Festival
PO Box 1212
Somerset, KY 42502
mastermusiciansfestival@gmail.com 

Michelle Allen, Executive Director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), joined me for this episode!

Michelle's long time career in tourism began as a tour coordinator with Renfro Valley Entertainment Center. After serving on the CVB Board for five years, an opportunity arose for her to become the new Executive Director where she now leads an organization at the heart of her passion. The CVB plays a key role, not only in promoting Lake Cumberland, but in so many great events in our community. 

Did you know tourism has an over $120 million dollar annual impact just in our community?

We talked:

• Economic impact of tourism in our community
• Tourism + COVID
• The No Boat Show Boat Show
• Upcoming Spring Events
• And much more!

Michelle's book recommendation: Delia Owens, "Where the Crawdads Sing" https://www.amazon.com/Where-Crawdads-Sing-Delia-Owens/dp/0735219095 

Interested in working with or the resources available through CVB:
https://lctourism.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/LakeCumberlandTourism/ 

Somerset-Pulaski County Convention & Visitors Bureau
522 Ogden St
Somerset, KY 42501

Ameet Patel, Principal at Thoroughbred Hospitality Group, joined me to kickoff season two!

Thoroughbred Hospitality Group is a Hospitality Development Management Company with the sole purpose of creating value-added projects that are both sustainable and made to last. Formed off a strong ethical foundation, they are highly regarded throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky for their unwavering commitment to quality, as well as their creative use of building materials to keep costs low.

We talked:

• The Thoroughbred Hospitality Group Portfolio
• Impact of COVID on the Hospitality Industry
• Hometown Kid to SPEDA Board Member
• Crumbl Cookies--Opening Soon!
• And much more!

Ameet's book recommendation: Barack Obama, "A Promised Land" https://www.amazon.com/A-Promised-Land-Obama-Audiobook/dp/B08HGH9JMF/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=barack+obama&qid=1617884772&sr=8-2 

Interested in working with or the resources available through THG:
https://thghotels.net/ 
https://www.facebook.com/THGHotels 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thghotels/ 

Thoroughbred Hospitality Group
82 Jolin Drive
Somerset, KY 42503

Brett Traver, Executive Director of Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation, better known as SKED, joined me for episode number thirteen.

SKED's mission is to improve the quality of life and vitality of their service area by promoting sustainable economic development and employment opportunities with creativity, professionalism, and integrity in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners.

We talked:

• SKED's 35th Anniversary 
• The Many Services and Programs of SKED
• Recruiting and Expanding Businesses
• Small to Large Business Lending
• Connecting people to their community banks for PPP Loans
• And much more!

Brett's book recommendation: Gordon R. Sullivan, "Hope is Not A Method" https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Not-Method-Business-Americas/dp/076790060X

Interested in working with or the resources available through SKED:
https://skedcorp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/skedcorp/ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtPGWJqcRpWcyHJW_dGT4yw 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/skedcorp/ 

SKED
2292 S Hwy 27
Somerset, KY 42501
606-677-6100

Chris Girdler, President + CEO of the Somerset-Pulaski County Economic Development Authority, better known as SPEDA, joined me for episode number twelve.

SPEDA is a groundbreaking and innovative economic development organization that oversees and focuses on a well rounded and collaborative approach to bettering the community and region. It's focus is business creation, expansion, retention, and attraction.

We talked:

• Upcoming Two-Year Anniversary of SPEDA
• How Somerset-Pulaski County Now Has a "Seat at the Table"
• Establishment and progress of community re-entry programs
• KY FAME Program through Somerset Community College
• Horse Soldier Bourbon's timeline
• What's on the horizon for 2021
• Stay tuned the next 30-60 days...

Chris' book recommendations: Dr. Meg Meeker's "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters" https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Fathers-Daughters-Secrets-Father/dp/0345499395 

Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976 

Interested in working with or the resources available through SPEDA:
https://somersetkyleads.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/spedaky/ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLN8BF7gbxL7lWWlUaymXgw 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/spedaky/ 
606-425-5409

Jordan Adams, Owner of Zilla Meals, joined me for episode eleven.

Zilla Meals has quickly become a success story in downtown Somerset. From humble beginnings, they have poured everything in to growing their business.

They started by renting the backroom of an already established kitchen. They faced increasing rent, being denied for multiple loans, and yet still pushed forward. 

With the retail store thriving in downtown Somerset, they also deliver to 19 drop-off location across the state and even into Indiana.

We talked:

• The humble beginnings of Zilla Meals
• Adversity they overcame
• The what/how/why of Zilla's food
• Exciting news on the horizon
• And much more

Like the Zilla Meals Facebook page: 
https://www.facebook.com/zillameals 

Follow Zilla Meals on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/zillameals/ 

Most importantly, order food today from Zilla Meals:
https://zilla-meals.com/ 

Book Recommendations:

"75 Hard" by Andy Frisella - https://andyfrisella.com/collections/75-hard 

"Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable" by Tim Grover - https://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Unstoppable-Tim-S-Grover/dp/1476714207